Mare has one game: Run & gun

AUBURN, Wash. - Maid in the Moon will shoot for a third consecutive win on Saturday when she takes on seven other older fillies and mares in the Emerald Downs feature, a six-furlong race for $25,000 to $22,500 claimers.

Trained by Bill Tollett for owners Dave and Elaine Parks, Maid in the Moon is coming off back-to-back wins at Turf Paradise, where she wired a field of $12,500 claimers on Feb. 11 and allowance company on March 19.

By no means a hot weather specialist, Maid in the Moon won her first two starts at Emerald last season and boasts a record of seven wins from 16 starts in her career. Five years old, she has led from gate to wire in all of her scores and figures to go to the front again on Saturday, when she will be ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 118 pounds.

None of Maid in the Moon's Saturday opponents have displayed her brand of early speed, but Skylar May and Michelle's Cap can stay within striking distance and may have the best chance to upset. Skylar May, who is coming off an extended layoff for trainer Alan Bozell, defeated $20,000 company at 6 1/2 furlongs here last season, while Michelle's Cap has been competitive in recent sprints against similar company at Golden Gate.

Sister Adiba and Asummerforwindy enjoyed productive meets at Emerald last season, with Sister Adiba notching four wins and Asummerforwindy scoring twice, but neither mare has enough speed to make her own luck. Both finish with gusto, however, and are capable of taking advantage of an unexpectedly hot pace.

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